Last week, the SAR school community came together to mark Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut with programming that brought Israel’s story vividly to life and demonstrated SAR’s dedicated connection to Medinat Yisrael and
Am Yisrael.
On Tuesday night, the community gathered to commemorate Yom HaZikaron, honoring the courageous chayalim who gave their lives defending Medinat Yisrael, as well as the innocent lives lost to acts of terror. At a ceremony hosted by the Riverdale Jewish Community Partnership, we remembered the loved ones of members of our community who made the ultimate sacrifice for Israel. SAR is grateful to the local rabbinic and lay leaders who stood with them in solidarity with Am Yisrael: Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, Rabbi Dovid Zirkind (RJC), Rav Steven Exler (HIR), Rabbi Asher Abramovitz (Kinneret Day School), Rabbi Linda Shriner-Cahn (Congregation Tehillah), Rabbi Katie Greenberg (CSAIR), Rabbi Shmuel Hain (YIOZ), Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe (HIR), Rabbi Barry Dov Katz (CSAIR), RK Dina Najman (Kehillah of Riverdale), and Rabbi Thomas Gardner (The Riverdale Temple) for joining us and to Rabba Yaffa Epstein, Rabbi Dov Linzer (Yeshivat Chovevei Torah), and Abby Eisenberg, who shared their loved ones’ stories.
The next day, Yom HaZikaron continued with deeply personal encounters for students, who heard firsthand stories of bravery and resilience. Alum Maayan Sarna (AC ’18, HS ’22), author Elkana Cohen (October 7), parent Udi Haber, and SAR faculty members David Engel, Michael Turjeman, Uri Gurovich, and Assaf Diamant (speaking virtually from active reserve duty in Israel) shared their personal experiences with the students.
On Thursday, SAR transitioned from remembrance to celebration for Yom Ha’Atzmaut. The day began with a beautiful musical Hallel on the steps, followed by a joyous chagigah on the field. A highlight was our always-inspiring sixth grade daglanut performance. Students in Grades 1—5 enjoyed a spirited Blue vs. White Maccabiah, ELC students had fun with inflatables, and middle schoolers took a trip to Van Cortlandt Park after participating in the Yossi Hershkovitz z”l Beit Sefer LaMusika. This beloved event has become an annual tradition that wouldn’t be what it is today without Yossi, and one which SAR is proud to rename in his memory.
The day culminated with the Rabbi William Z. & Eda Bess Novick z”l Community Yom Ha’Atzmaut BBQ. The event was a joyful gathering of families and friends, celebrating together under blue skies and Israeli flags—a fitting finale to a week that honored the past, uplifted the present and looked with hope toward the future.
In a time when 59 hostages remain in Gaza and IDF soldiers stand on the front lines, SAR students’ visible pride and deep-rooted connection to Israel served as a powerful expression of Jewish unity and hope.
